CBD OIL

Cannabidiol (CBD) continues to be added to a wide variety of health and beauty products, including face creams, soaps, and makeup. More recently, however, the cannabinoid has also been found in feminine products. The question is, does CBD bring any benefit to women’s care? And is it safe at all?

CBD has been linked to several medicinal benefits, including relief from pain and inflammation. It’s no wonder more and more women are using CBD as a more natural alternative to pain relievers to help curb the discomfort they often experience during their menstrual cycles and after sex. Since inflammation is typically the source of pain and discomfort in the reproductive region, as a powerful natural anti-inflammatory agent, CBD may be able to effectively relieve discomfort in this area. [1]

Given that the vaginal area is extremely sensitive and easily affected by the introduction of certain products, it is easy to understand why certain questions about the safety and effectiveness of CBD infused women’s products such as tampons, vaginal suppositories, vaginal lubricants, etc.

However, some experts in the obstetrics and gynecology world believe that CBD could have a beneficial effect on symptoms associated with menstruation and even sex.

What we currently know about CBD is that it interacts with the endocannabinoid system receptors in the body to produce specific effects, such as: B. reducing pain, inflammation, anxiety, and others. [2] Since there are cannabinoid receptors in the vaginal mucosa, it stands to reason that the presence of CBD in this region could have local pain relieving effects as the cannabinoids work with the receptors in the vaginal wall.

A CBD product placed directly into the vaginal wall enables the cannabinoid to be absorbed directly into the blood vessels in the area and released into the bloodstream. This can work better than orally administered CBD, which has to pass through the digestive tract and liver before entering the bloodstream.

However, there are not yet many studies that prove the effects of CBD when used vaginally. More research is needed to confirm the use of CBD in this way, especially regarding the correct dosage and possible side effects. At the very least, CBD products cannot always serve as a substitute for traditional remedies, but can be a great addition to more conventional products.

Anyone looking to try a CBD-based product for use in the vaginal area should do a small patch test prior to generous use, similar to any other new product. In addition, feminine products with fragrances should be avoided.

Image source: Jill Wellington from Pixabay

References:

1- Nagarkatti, P, et al., “Cannabinoids as Novel Anti-Inflammatory Drugs,” Future Med Chem., October 2009, 1 (7): 1333-1349.

2- Zou, S. & Kimar, U., “Cannabinoid Receptors and the Endocannabinoid System: Signaling and Function in the Central Nervous System,” Int. J. Mol. Sci., Mar 2018, 19 (3): 833.

The cannabidiol (CBD) craze is not over yet.

Actually interested in CBD products keep on climbing. You can now buy anything from CBD-infused lip gloss to a CBD pillows. However, the most popular CBD products could be edibles. Digesting CBD has a very different effect than smoking it or smearing it on your skin.

If you’re interested in nibbling on a CBD biscuit or sipping a cannabinoid latte, you’re in luck – there are tons of high quality CBD edibles for sale in the U.S. Here are a few tasty options:

1- Wyld raspberry CBD gum

West Coast cannabis lovers may recognize the brand. Wyld is a Portland based cannabis that makes some of the most delicious gums on the market. The raspberry gums are both sweet and strong as they are fortified with 500 mg of CBD.

2- CBD American shaman kettle popcorn

Who doesn’t love popcorn? It’s the ultimate snack food – crispy, salty, and slightly greasy. This bag of popcorn is fortified with 30 mg of CBD. That can be anything you need to eat to feel more relaxed and comfortable.

3- 502 Hemp CBD Infused Cookies

These are ooey, sticky chocolate chip cookies, thick with 25 mg of CBD. The cookies are also gluten-free, vegan and made in a special allergen-free facility. They’re a healthier alternative to traditional cookies that might be worth eating even if you’re not into CBD.

4- LuLus CBD chocolate

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabis chocolate often has a recognizable taste, especially if you are not used to eating edibles. However, CBD chocolate usually tastes the same as regular chocolate. So it’s no wonder that this LuLu chocolate is creamy and rich. What makes it special is the high quality CBD that it is fortified with.

Where to Find CBD Edibles

Hemp CBD is legal in every state, so finding edibles online is easy. You don’t have to live in a state with a legal cannabis market. You can go straight to the manufacturer’s website or shop from a general CBD retailer.

If you live in a legal state it is worth going to a pharmacy. So you can be absolutely sure that you are purchasing a high quality product.

Image source: Pixabay

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and feeling pain go into your hands and feet. It’s so bad it feels like someone is stabbing you! The throbbing and penetrating feeling brings you to tears. It’s bad enough that the intensity is so painful, but imagine that this happens every night of your life now. This would send the strongest person into the worst of depression.

So what are you doing? Turn on your lights and grab the bottle of pain medication. Makes sense right? You try to open the bottle and only find that it feels like it weighs a thousand pounds !!! You struggle in frustration that the pain is preventing you from opening up something so small that should be easy. Finally, after minutes that feel like an eternity, the bottle is finally open. You grab some pills and swallow them like someone who hasn’t eaten in a month. Now sit and wait for the pain to stop! After an hour or so, it finally looks better and you are relieved that you can now try to get back to sleep. Morning comes and you feel tired and frustrated. Yes you could fall asleep but the quality was terrible. Your body feels like it has just done 10 laps with Mike Tyson. Worst of all, your stomach is knotted from the pain relievers. You feel miserable and hopeless !!

This is the reality for anyone with neuropathy or nerve pain, and they experience it on a daily basis. It is sad to hear and see that such a technologically advanced world still relies on pain relievers with unpleasant side effects. It would be great if they actually worked, but we hear from our patients that they are not even sure if anything is happening at all. So you are taking a drug that is not working and has side effects. Does that sound like a good offer now? We can fly a robot to Mars, but we can’t do enough research to find a better solution for people coping with neuropathy and nerve pain.

So the question is, why didn’t they? Is there anything better than antidepressants, anti-seizures, or opioids for neuropathic nerve pain?

How much money do you think is being made from neuropathic pain relievers? 1 million, 1 billion, what do you mean? The answer is a whopping $ 5 billion a year !!

So if drug companies are making $ 5 billion plus a year on these drugs, why should they invest in research or better alternatives for patients? From a business point of view, it doesn’t make sense. Neuropathy is not a condition that goes away; it is increasing at an alarming rate. There are so many causes of diabetes, chemotherapy, surgery, blood pressure and cholesterol medication, inflammation-related causes, and hundreds of other causes. If you look at the scope and size of these numbers, the market will only go up.

How does the pharmaceutical business balance the business of utility versus money? That is the question. Will Big Pharma continue to give people drugs that in many cases will eventually become ineffective? Is it okay to give patients drugs that cause other health problems? Unfortunately, the answer for these companies is yes. For them it’s about the money. They know their drugs have side effects, but it’s a small price to pay for them.

So how do you break out of this form? How do you take yourself out of the matrix and become a neo? The answer is CBD.

My specialty is neuropathy. CBD topicals have been a miracle for my patients. It made it possible for them to live again. They could replace their pain medication with cbd. You have reported so many great things about using the topical cream. Do I think CBD in other forms may be effective for neuropathic patients? The answer is yes. Personally, I did not take this route because our patient base is usually at high risk and takes a lot of medication. So we have to be very careful when introducing something new to our patients.

Can you imagine waking up in pain every day with no relief? We will never be able to understand the life of someone living in pain 24/7. So we have to do more. We have before us something so powerful with proven benefits. It has been shown to be superior to some of the pain remedies. I believe that CBD was placed on this earth for a reason. Regardless of your religious beliefs, I believe that CBD has a bigger purpose. The world is very sick and we are starting to see it more and more. It seems like life now is about instant gratification, not lifelong happiness. Happiness means being healthy and doing the things that you want to do on your terms. If we wait for the drug companies to research and find out that CBD is the holy grail, good luck. Knowing your story, you will find a way to mess it up.

So it is up to us as people, doctors and entrepreneurs to push the boundaries on all fronts. Our message must be clear and simple. The words that people hear and see must be based on common sense. CBD has very powerful anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. Inflammation is a complicated process that involves many signaling pathways. The body uses signaling molecules called eicosanoids to trigger the inflammatory response.

One of the ways CBD can reduce inflammation is by blocking an eicosanoid enzyme called COX2. NSAID drugs such as Advil and Aspirin also target COX2 in their mode of action. Wouldn’t it be great to get to the point where we all know 2 ibuprofen is that much CBD? That you could take it and not have the side effects. It is amazing that something that came from this earth can save your life. Is that a crazy thought or what ??

The science of CBD is clear. It creates balance in the body. Any type of pain is always a dysfunction of a chemical, structural, or neurological system. This is the methodology of how health problems typically arise. What does cbd do in general? It creates balance in the body. From a cellular point of view, when equilibrium occurs, repair also takes place. Now let’s take this concept to the next level. What if you can add other things to CBD? Adding amino acids or nutritional supplements to create better harmony in the body. Give your body everything it needs to function. What would happen then? Specific proteins are produced, nerve growth factors multiply, and cell repair begins. It is as if the seas parted before Moses. Life happens again. Life begins to become comfortable again for people. I’ve seen it over and over in my practice. Life without pain medication is possible. It just takes more people who think differently, talk about it, research, test, and push the envelope to get it into mainstream conversation. We have to be better than big pharmaceutical companies. Money is always part of the equation, but it doesn’t mean people are getting an inferior solution.

In the famous words of Jerry Maguire, “You complete me”. Let’s do more and be more with CBD.

As the cannabis and CBD industries continue their rise to the forefront of the American market, new regulations governing the packaging of products are quickly becoming a cause for concern.

Data compiled by MjBizDaily showed that the economic impact of marijuana is up 30% from 2020 and is expected to reach $ 92 billion this year. Sales of $ 160 billion are forecast for 2025.

With the industry’s wide range of products now exploding on shelves, established companies and business models are starting to feel the heat. Concerns about clear labeling, parental controls, and sustainability are mounting as major confectionery manufacturers complain about packaging confusion.

Lisa Buffo, Founder and CEO of the Cannabis Marketing Association, said, “Packaging is a critical touch point for the cannabis user.”

“This is the first step they take when physically interacting with the product,” she said. “What information is on the packaging? Is it something that the consumer can read and understand? Will this information change the way they use the product and improve their understanding of what is in it? “

A recent report published by Grand View Research, Inc. showed that increasing legalization and demand for medical and recreational cannabis around the world is projected to reach the legal marijuana market size of an estimated $ 73.6 billion by 2027.

More than 60% of cannabis users surveyed by the Brightfield Group said they prefer labels describing a product’s THC content and type of strain (indica, sativa, hybrid), while nearly 50% said they also list the Want ingredients.

Here are the current concerns about cannabis and CDB packaging.

Clear labeling / milligrams per dose

Unfortunately, the requirements for product labeling information vary significantly in each US state. While every state required delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol content and manufacturer’s contact information, only 80% of states required the lot number, health risks, production tracking, a cannabis symbol, cannabidiol content, child disclaimer, and impairment disclaimer.

Patricia Miller, Editor-in-Chief of Cannabis and technology today, said: “Most cannabis products are subject to strict regulatory supervision, but without a certificate of analysis, consumers have no way of knowing what they are consuming and how much.”

In addition, “many of the test facilities have had to develop their own test methods and the result is lab-to-laboratory variability,” she said.

For CBD products, basic labeling requirements include a scannable barcode or QR code to make it easier to see the batch identification number, product name, batch date and size, Expiry date, total quantity produced, ingredients or certificate of analysis. Product requirements also include an FDA warning, no medical or health claims.

Keep out of reach of children

Since there are so many different standards for cannabis packaging, this is the New York Times reported that the big candy manufacturers are upset over similar THC goodies. According to the article, Wrigley’s and others protect not only their brands but your children as well.

In fact, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., owned by Mars Inc., filed lawsuits against five companies in May for selling cannabis-infused edibles that look like Skittles, Starburst, and Life Savers.

While incumbent product manufacturers have raised concerns about similar packaging, Miller said that some cannabis companies are not satisfied with the requirement for child-resistant packaging because alcohol brands are not packaged in child-resistant containers and there is the potential for fatal overdose.

“Parental controls are largely a by-product of the lingering stigma surrounding cannabis,” she continued. “But these regulations help people feel more comfortable having cannabis products at home, so they are ultimately good for the industry.”

According to the Child Mind Institute, not only are adults experimenting with CBD for anything that bothers them, but increasingly parents are turning to CBD to help their children focus, sleep, calm down, and more.

What does the box look like?

Nobody has to tell you that the usual packaged cannabis products are time sensitive. In addition, the brands also want space on the packaging to market their product.

In addition to light, UV rays, moisture, and gases that can potentially ruin the product inside, cannabinoid-infused beverages still struggle to create formulations that prevent the active ingredients from entering the package and becoming inert.

While the freshness and shelf life of cannabis products are always a concern, the brand’s ability to market the product is also hampered by the requirements of regulations and child-proof copies.

Buffo said because they have to use child-resistant packaging and affix labels with product information and health warnings, “it often leaves little to no room for branding, consumer education or design innovation.”

“Brands need to get creative to improve the customer experience and communication with their customers when packaging space is limited,” she continued. “In addition, the products are often behind the counter and are only handed over to the customer after they have been purchased, so that there is no need to touch or read when shopping.”

On the CBD side, cosmetic and personal care products have found incredible appeal with consumers in a relatively short period of time, which has led to a noticeable packaging development, so Beauty packaging.

To be green or not to be green

Similar to many other sectors in the world market, single-use plastic products have become a hurdle for packaging in the cannabis industry. Although their use became a popular alternative during the COVID-19 pandemic, single-use plastic bags are on the way out as sustainability concerns resurface.

Miller said the cannabis industry’s biggest problem is waste.

“While child safety and traceability regulations have created a monster from RFID tags to individual pre-roll tubes, single-use plastics are an environmental concern.”

Going forward, industry experts believe government and industry need to focus on what packaging is appropriate and necessary to improve the process for brands, customers and the environment.

From both cannabis and CBD packaging perspectives, companies should consider whether the materials are of natural origin, whether they are biodegradable, recyclable, and how much energy is required for recycling?

Are the materials also reusable or disposable designs, do they contain added harmful chemicals and is the company itself committed to sustainability?

Additionally, CBD and cannabis products wrapped in paper and made from cannabis-based materials will also improve sustainability.

About the author:

Mark McClure is Vice President of Operations at the flexible packaging company International Plastics in Greenville, SC

https://www.interplas.com/

Technical background

With technological advances and growing consumer interest in CBD / THC-infused beverages, Industrial Sonomechanics (ISM) has seen significant activity and business growth in its technology for making water-compatible CBD and THC formulations, as well as the manufacture of finished nanoemulsions products. ISM’s technology is a complete solution that includes high amplitude ultrasonic liquids on laboratory, laboratory and industrial scale Processors in connection with several All-In-One NanoStabilizers® Formulations.

With this solution, ISM’s customers are fully able to commercially manufacture translucent water-soluble nanoemulsions of cannabis extracts that can be easily infused into water and other beverages cannabinoids.

A typical nanoemulsion concentrate produced with ISM technology contains between 10 and 50 mg / ml cannabinoids, which are suspended in the form of nanoscale droplets with an average diameter of around 20-30 nm, which ensures permanent water tolerance, translucency and long-term stability . When about 0.2 – 1 ml (depending on the concentration and required dose) of nanoemulsion is infused in water (see pictures below), the translucency turns into complete transparency and results in a clear cannabinoid-infused water-based product.

ISM’s technology also enables the production of water-soluble CBD and THC powders and tablets as well as a wide range of water-compatible nanoemulsions of aromatic oils and many other hydrophobic bioactive ingredients.

Trends in bioactive ingredients

We look at the ingredients of cannabis beverages from two consumer-oriented perspectives. First, what is the desired cannabis beverage consumer experience? Is the consumer interested in the therapeutic benefits of just relaxing in the evening, both? Second, what is the vehicle for consumption and the desired look and taste of the product? With today’s nanotechnology, consumers can take advantage of infused bioactive ingredients like CBD and Delta-9 THC, and we are seeing a significant increase in the rating of Delta-8 THC properties.

Based on these perspectives, manufacturers can formulate CBD and / or THC products with the desired effects. As a result, consumers can determine what they want and expect from their product, so that companies, with the right equipment and formulations, produce high quality products that allow short exposure times with predictable and reproducible potency.

At the beginning of the CBD / THC infused beverage market curve, we saw many low quality emulsions with large droplet sizes (in the hundreds of nanometers) and the appearance of absorbing milk that were not readily available to the body. With the advancement of industry, made possible by high amplitude ultrasonic devices and better emulsifier formulations, translucent nanoemulsions with much smaller droplet sizes quickly began to replace milky emulsions. Translucent nanoemulsions are in great demand because their extremely small droplet sizes enable high bioavailability, short action times and predictable duration of action. They also have the advantage that they do not change the appearance of the drink, as they become transparent when diluted.

We are currently also seeing a rapidly growing demand for water-soluble CBD and THC powders that, when added to a beverage, reconstitute to their original nanoemulsified state (just like adding sugar to coffee). Powders also enable a wide range of applications and finished products – for example, they can be compressed into tablets that break down immediately in the mouth and dissolve in saliva, or they can be formulated as effervescent tablets that dissolve quickly in beverages.

Taste trends

While it’s not always obvious, cannabis extracts are bitter. It is important to remember that the taste of a substance cannot be felt if the substance is not dissolved in saliva. Refined CBD and THC extracts, distillates, and isolates may not appear bitter when tasted directly because they do not dissolve in water (or saliva). The formulation as a nanoemulsion makes it compatible with water and thereby increases its bioavailability, but also enables our taste buds to perceive its bitterness.

We see two different preference trends in terms of taste. Many consumers enjoy and are still looking for a “homegrown flavor” in which they can taste the terpenes and flavonoids of the original plant in the drink. This comes as a surprise to some, but others want to identify deeply with what they are consuming. Of course, there is a second preference where consumers want to try something that they really like, but not necessarily related to the flavors of the original plant. In other words, you want to mask the taste of the extract and / or cover it with other flavors. To this end, we constantly see requests for masking agents and water-soluble flavor additives. We have recently started offering such products.

Cannabis drinks can be a bit like alcoholic – an acquired taste. Some consumers like the natural taste of cannabis, similar to those who love a peaty scotch. Others find the taste unpleasant and would rather suit the hard seltzer drinkers of the world. The industry is learning that not every taste in the CBD / THC beverage space is monolithic. If there is a market for a particular flavor profile or flavor, the industry will adapt. Given the tools and product options, the branders, designers, and marketers will be there to meet this need.

Technological innovation trends

In our opinion, the most important technology trend in product development is particle size. Water-compatible nano-emulsified beverage products with a focus on small particle sizes are at the core of the future market introduction of THC / CBD products, as they enable consumers to trust their quality, effect and taste.

The trend is towards nanoemulsions with the smallest possible droplet sizes. This applies to liquid nanoemulsions as well as water-soluble powders and tablets, which reconstitute themselves in water (or saliva) to form nanoemulsions. Droplet size has a direct impact on all of the major benefits of nanoemulsion-based products, including translucency, bioavailability, and onset of action. In order to absorb oils and fats from our food, the digestive system usually first “reforms” them into mixed micelles – droplets with mean droplet diameters around 20 nanometers. This is what our small intestine can absorb most efficiently. It is therefore important to keep the droplet sizes in nanoemulsion-based products close to this value for maximum benefit.

ISMs Barbell horn® ultrasound technology-based processors and NanoStabilizer® formulations enable its customers to easily produce nanoemulsions with droplet sizes of only 20-30 nm CBD or THC absorbed into the bloodstream very quickly and completely. Our processors can output extremely high ultrasonic amplitudes and operate at any scale, allowing manufacturers to quickly move from a laboratory to a production environment to meet the growing (and ever-changing) consumer interest in infused beverages.

In the next two years, there is likely to be rapid advancement in the CBD and THC infused beverage market. Companies have to act quickly and with agility when they bring new products onto the market that are reliable and of consistent quality. Technology needs to be coupled with consumer education, which in turn is supported by research. Science-oriented institutions, technology companies and informed consumers will be great partners in advancing technology and innovation in the beverage industry.

About Industrial Sonomechanics, LLC.

Industrial Sonomechanics, LLC (ISM) is a research and development, equipment design, and process consulting firm specializing in high-intensity ultrasonic technology for fluid treatment. Our mission is to support companies in optimizing their ultrasound-based processes and implementing them in commercial production. Learn more about ISM at sonomechanics.com.